Accused highway shooter in court in Oakland County

By John Turk, For the Daily Tribune

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Wixom man who authorities say terrified residents in four counties after shooting randomly at motorists along the I-96 corridor was arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court today and could soon stand trial in a case that began in October.

Raulie Wayne Casteel, 43, accused of assault with intent to murder — as well as several felony weapons charges — stood stone-facedin front of Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morristo hear his charges. In total, Casteel is charged with 60 counts tied to nine shooting incidents in Commerce Township and Wixom.

Douglas Mullkoff, part of Casteel’s defense team, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf on all counts and waived a formal reading of the multiple charges.

Jeff Hall, representing the prosecutor’s office, asked if the court would like a copy of Casteel’s competency exams.

“I think we need it,” Langford Morrisreplied.

Court-ordered psychological tests in both have determined that Casteel is competent to stand trial and is able to aid his attorneys in his own defense in Oakland County.

As both legal sides prepare for trial, Casteel’s attorneys — Ann Arbor lawyers Charles M. Groh and Mullkoff — will have to decide on a defense strategy.

Two weeks earlier, after his client was ordered to trial, Mullkoff noted that while Casteel has been declared competent, the forensic exams also revealed that Casteel suffers from delusional disorder.

Criminal responsibility exams ordered by Novi Judge Brian MacKenzie in early February are still pending, which Langford Morris noted in court Thursday.

“We’re going to see where we go after we get a result from the forensic center,” Mullkoff said March 1. He declined comment Thursday. While Casteel’s attorneys have not confirmed a strategy, a potential insanity defense is plausible, due to Mullkoff’s noting the outlying results of Casteel’s competency tests.

Michigan Attorney Bill Schuette’s office has taken the lead on handling the remaining 15 shooting incidents that occurred in Ingham, Livingston and Shiawassee counties. In that case, the Michigan State University graduate is charged with numerous felonies and one count of terrorism — a charge that carries a life sentence if he is convicted.

Casteel is scheduled to appear in Livingston County’s 53rd District Court for preliminary exams on March 27 and March 29. He was found competent after psychological tests were ordered in these cases, as well.

The married father remains jailed on $2 million bond in both Oakland and Livingston counties. He is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court again April 4 for a pretrial.

After the arraignment, Mullkoff said that he was unsure whether that date would get adjourned due to further tests not being completed and his client’s concurrent case in Livingston County.